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Salary: USD 250,000 - 285,000 / annual
Cowboy Space Corp. is building orbital infrastructure to power and connect the space economy. Founded in 2024 by Baiju Bhatt (Robinhood co-founder) and backed by leading investors, the company develops satellites in Low Earth Orbit that collect sunlight and enable new capabilities: powering on-orbit compute, transmitting energy via infrared lasers (space-to-earth and space-to-space), and delivering secure, high-bandwidth optical data.
As Engine Lead, you will own the complete lifecycle of the engine program from architecture and design through production, test, flight, and refurbishment. You serve as chief engineer, program manager, technical lead, and lead systems engineer, directing a multi-disciplinary team of propulsion, structural, mechanical, avionics, software, and test engineers to deliver a flight-proven, reusable engine. You will coordinate closely with vehicle integration, manufacturing, test, and launch operations teams as the engine integrates with the broader launch system.
Key responsibilities include: owning the engine program from development through flight operations; developing engine operation procedures and operational limits; defining and managing schedule and budget; creating and executing verification and qualification plans; participating in test and launch operations to make real-time engineering decisions; owning the engine upgrade plan for improved reliability and faster production; and driving design-for-reuse decisions including inspection intervals, life-limited parts, refurbishment procedures, and acceptance criteria.
Required qualifications: 5+ years in design, build, or test of rocket engines, combustion devices, turbopumps, or valves; demonstrated experience on one or more development engine programs through significant lifecycle portions; proven ability to integrate multi-disciplinary technical teams; strong systems engineering fundamentals applied in fast-paced development; exceptional command of compressible flow, thermodynamics, combustion, control systems, cryogenics, and instrumentation; proficiency with fluid analysis tools (Python, NPSS, AMESim, Thermal Desktop, EES, REFPROP); strong data analysis skills for test data interpretation; proficiency with aerospace fasteners, seals, tubing, and COTS hardware; hands-on fabrication and assembly experience; excellent communication and team-building; Bachelor's in mechanical or aerospace engineering or equivalent.
Preferred: gas-generator cycle or LNG/methane propulsion experience; engine reuse, inspection, and recertification experience; CAD and configuration management proficiency; GD&T and tolerance stackup expertise; welding experience; engine transient modeling and control system design familiarity.
